How To Say Yes To Everything
I bet you've heard advice about saying no more often. How what you turn down is more important for your impact than what you accept.
Saying no does allow you to choose projects that align closely with your goals. But think about someone you know who says no all the time. Are they considered a partner? Are they collaborative and easy to work with?
I bet they're not.
The goal isn't to say no. It's to take on the right projects while still being a helpful collaborator. The analytics leaders I know who have mastered saying "yes and" deliver more strategic value than the ones who push back.
The key is saying yes to the value and importance of the problem while redirecting the request to something more manageable.
The Problem with Traditional "No"
I worked closely with someone who refused almost everything, and it was incredibly frustrating. The work didn't disappear when he turned it down. It just fell somewhere else. Usually to someone who had to do it inefficiently (aka me). It used to drive me nuts.
Early in my career, I went the other way. I said yes to everything, which led to saying hello to high-stress, long hours and work on the weekends.
Both are bad options. They make you look reactive, not strategic, and neither positions you as a partner who adds value. Who wants to work with someone who says no all the time?
The "Yes, And" Framework
"Yes, I understand that's important to you. And here's how we can solve the underlying problem..."
Four Ways to Say Yes While Redirecting:
1. Yes to the Problem, No to the Solution
Instead of: "We can't build that dashboard"
Try: "Yes, you need visibility into customer trends. Let me show you three ways we could approach that, including one that gives you what you need by tomorrow"
2. Yes to the Timeline, No to the Scope
Instead of: "That's impossible by Friday"
Try: "Yes, we can absolutely get you something actionable by Friday. Here's what we can deliver then, and here's what would need to wait until next week"
3. Yes to the Importance, No to the Priority
Instead of: "We're too busy for that right now"
Try: "Yes, this is clearly important. Here's where it fits relative to your other strategic priorities. Which would you like us to move to make room?"
4. Yes to the Outcome, No to the Process
Instead of: "We can't change our methodology"
Try: "Yes, we want to give you confidence in these numbers. Let me explain our approach and why it's reliable, then we can discuss any concerns"
Why This Works
This approach validates the person's needs and intelligence, shows you understand the business context, and positions you as a problem-solver rather than a gatekeeper.
The collaborative conversations that come from strategic redirects are far more valuable than the work that comes from simply saying yes to everything.
The Goal Isn't to Avoid Work. It's to Do the Right Work
When you say yes to the person and no to the wrong solution, you build trust instead of blocking progress. Your stakeholders feel heard, your team works on high-impact projects, and you become the analytics leader people want to collaborate with, not work around.
A Little Assignment
When you get a request this week that you want to say no to, try the "Yes, and" framework. Validate the need, but redirect to something more manageable.
Then pay attention to the stakeholder's reaction:
Do they seem more or less collaborative after your redirect?
Do they take your suggested approach, or do they push back?
How does the project evolve from there—does it become more strategic or get dropped entirely?
Notice how "yes, and" changes not just the immediate conversation, but the entire trajectory of the work.
I believe if data leaders had more impact, all our organizations would be better off. Take the 5-minute Analyst to Advisor Assessment and find out if you're stuck in analyst mode or ready to become the strategic advisor your organization needs.